Food Allergies Specialist

Advanced Allergy and Asthma

Allergists located in Ogden, UT

Food allergies affect an estimated 4-6% of children and at least 4% of adults. At Advanced Allergy & Asthma in Ogden, Utah, talented healthcare providers Vicki J, Lyons, MD, and Tim Sullivan, MD, discuss your dietary habits and symptoms, then provide comprehensive testing to determine what you’re allergic to and chart a course of treatment. To schedule an appointment, call or use the online booking tool today.

Food Allergies Q & A

What are common signs and symptoms of food allergies?

A food allergy occurs when your body’s immune system responds to food that it perceives as dangerous.

Your body may have just a mild reaction to a specific food once, only to react more severely to that same food another time. That’s why it’s so critical to pin down the type of food allergy you have and take steps to manage or treat your symptoms.

Symptoms can affect your skin, gastrointestinal tract, cardiovascular system, or respiratory tract, and can manifest in a variety of ways, including:

Vomiting

Stomach cramps

Hives

Shortness of breath

Wheezing

Excessive coughing

Hoarseness

Difficulty swallowing

Trouble speaking or breathing

Dizziness

Loss of consciousness

Even death

The most severe symptom is anaphylaxis, a potentially life-threatening reaction that can affect your breathing and send your body into shock. Anaphylaxis can impair multiple parts of your body at the same time.

What are the most common food allergies?

Practically any food can cause an allergic reaction. However, eight types of food cause roughly 90% of all food allergies:

Eggs

Fish

Milk

Peanuts

Tree nuts

Shellfish

Soy

Wheat

Other common allergens include certain seeds, such as sesame and mustard seeds.

How do you diagnose food allergies?

Your Advanced Allergy & Asthma healthcare provider first reviews your medical history and symptoms. You should be prepared to discuss any allergic episodes in detail, including what you were eating. Typically, your provider will also administer a scratch test or blood test to confirm and diagnose your specific allergy.

How do you manage and treat food allergies?

If possible, you should avoid your trigger foods in all their forms. Advanced Allergy & Asthma providers can help you develop adjustments to your daily routine and explain ways to be more aware of trigger foods and how to avoid them.

They can even explain how to navigate eating at restaurants and how to supplement any lost nutrition. Injection kits are often necessary to have on you at all times in case of serious allergic reactions to foods.

To learn more about food allergies, call Advanced Allergy & Asthma or use the online booking tool to set up an appointment at the Ogden office today.